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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. mug — to rob
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. last — finally
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rush — hurry
  10. mug — a cup
  11. degree — an amount
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bank — for money
  14. degree — temperature
  15. degree — from a university
  16. last — to go on
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. cell — a phone
  20. toast — bread
  21. bank — of a river
  22. last — final
  23. bank — for money
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com